MU January Newsletter
posted by: Joan Vine | on: Friday, 5 January 2024, 08:06
Happy New Year 2024
Thoughts from your President, Maxine Paul: Happy New Year, Everyone! How did your Christmas go? Well, mine was a lovely, busy mixture of spending time with family and friends enjoying the festivities and lots of church services. My last few MU engagements before Christmas saw me celebrating 95 years of MU in Rainham at St Helen’s and St Giles’ at their carol service, with members whose own service to MU totalled well over 500 years… so many congratulations to them. The next day I visited Wickford and Runwell Branch for Midday Prayers at St Andrew’s followed by a sumptuous home-cooked Christmas lunch with 30 members and friends. Finally, my own Branch peace-themed carol service followed by tea and mince pies. Isn’t it wonderful how worship and fellowship, sharing food go hand-in-hand?
I have been following the Church of England #Follow the Star: Join the Song reflections for Christmas and New Year and, on 27th December as I was preparing to write this letter, I was struck by the theme for the day “How silently the wonderous gift is given” and the reading 1 Kings 19:11-12. I quote: “After the drama of a birth comes a moment of calm. Amidst the struggles of the world, at the centre of Christmas we find intimacy and peace: Jesus, held – and holding. We can become so busy preparing for Christmas that it’s over long before the food is finished or torn wrapping paper cleared. And have we had time to be present to the most important guest of all – Jesus, the heavenly guest whose arrival on earth our Christmas celebrations mark? Think of a guest who leaves you feeling heard, healed, replenished. My grandmother used to be like that – there for us. At the centre. The still centre. Often busy at the sink washing up or peeling potatoes – but always listening. It is only when such a guest leaves or passes on that you long for them to return. It’s in their attentiveness that you realise you are loved.” Can we try and make space to be attentive this year – to someone who needs to be heard, to the wonder of creation, to God’s still, small voice? Love and blessings. Maxine x
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Posted: 5 Jan 2024 | There are 0 comments
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